Australia have won their past 11 Tests against Wales, many by a sustained ability to haul themselves off the canvas at the end of a gruelling contest to deliver a knockout blow, but after refusing to congratulate New Zealand after their record 18th consecutive Test victory the Wallabies’ coach, Michael Cheika, remains uninterested in history.
Australia face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, 13 months after the sides last met in the World Cup at Twickenham. The men in red had the match in their grasp and eight minutes to play against 13 men – with two Wallabies in the sin‑bin – but they failed to find their way over the line and then fell to the boot of Bernard Foley.
Both sides have seven survivors in their starting lineups. Wales’s changes are down mostly to injury and unavailability while Australia’s reflect a new layer of skin since they reached the World Cup final and lost to New Zealand. Their team contain 543 caps to Wales’s 802, although they have considerably more experience on their bench – 259 caps compared with Wales’s 76.
“You have got to think about what is next, not what is behind you,” Cheika said, when asked if extending the winning run against Wales to 12 was a pressure or an incentive. “I don’t know if anyone is thinking about that when you have not won as many games as we should have this year. It has not popped up on anyone’s radar; all that is in the past. It gives you nothing on Saturday and it gives them nothing. It boils down to the better team will win – the other stuff is nice fluff on the outside.”
Australia have again picked David Pocock out of position in the back row, at blindside flanker rather than No8 where he was deployed during the World Cup. He replaces the suspended Dean Mumm. Cheika is prepared to sacrifice a lineout option to exploit a potential advantage at the breakdown where Wales will be without their captain, Sam Warburton.
“We have a new group of players,” Cheika said. “Our 13th debutant of the year is set to come off the bench on Saturday and it has been a big change for us. We have to invest in these guys so they understand what it means to be Wallabies. It is happening a bit at a time and we hope to play some of our best football against Wales, having improved as the year has gone on.
“We have made a decision about how we are building the national team and we are working hard on our relationship with our state sides. No more whining and moaning we have not got enough depth or players are being pinched here or there. This is our world; let’s get on and make it the best we can. If you start thinking about the past when you are coaching, you will soon be retired.”
Cheika does not expect Wales to play differently because Rob Howley is filling in as coach while Warren Gatland focuses on next year’s Lions tour. The starting team contain familiar faces, the uncapped Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies is on the bench to offer an attacking option. Like Australia’s Foley, he stands flat, distributes well and makes breaks.
Wales will be without the full-back Liam Williams, who failed to recover from an injured ankle but they have the consolation of Leigh Halfpenny returning to the position, 13 months after he last appeared in a Test.
While Australia have a new centre combination in Tevita Kuridrani and Reece Hodge, Wales’s Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts will be starting an international together for the 49th time and Gethin Jenkins leads the side in the absence of Warburton and Alun Wyn Jones.
“You know you are in for a tough game against Wales,” Pocock said. “They are a big, physical side across the park and it is always a battle. I do not know why we have won so many matches at the end against them. I will leave that for the commentators and the sports psychologists but they are certainly not mentally weak. We have a huge amount of respect for them.”
